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Protecting Forests, Protecting Butterflies

YEAR AFTER YEAR, MILLIONS OF MONARCH BUTTERFLIES RETURN TO THE SAME FORESTED MOUNTAINS IN CENTRAL MEXICO. THERE’S A PLAN TO PROTECT THE FORESTS AND THE BUTTERFLIES ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.

SEEING SO MANY ORANGE AND BLACK BUTTERFLIES GATHER IN MEXICO’S MONARCH BUTTERFLY BIOSPHERE RESERVE IS NOTHING SHORT OF SPECTACULAR.  BUT ACCORDING TO CARLOS GALINDO-LEAL OF THE WORLD WILDLIFE FUND, THE DELICATE ECOSYSTEM THESE INSECTS DEPEND ON IS THREATENED BY ILLEGAL LOGGING.

GALINDO-LEAL: WHEN YOU START REMOVING TREES, YOU LOSE THE MICROCLIMATE THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE SURVIVAL OF THE BUTTERFLIES THROUGH THE WINTER.

FORTUNATELY, THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT PLANS TO TAKE THE MONARCHS UNDER ITS WING.  PRESIDENT CALDERON RECENTLY ANNOUNCED HE WILL CURB ILLEGAL LOGGING IN THE AREA AND WILL SPEND MORE THAN FOUR MILLION DOLLARS ON OUTREACH AND CONSERVATION IN THE RESERVE.

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM. 

Read more about how illegal logging threatens butterflies from the BBC.

Learn more about President Calderon’s plan from MSNBC.

Learn more about the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve from WWF.

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